Cochlear Implant Quick Facts

The FDA first approved cochlear implant devices for adults in 1985 and children in 1990.

More than 219,000 individuals worldwide have received cochlear implants.

Over 70,000 individuals in the United States have received cochlear implants (Source: National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders [NIDCD]).

Both audiologists and speech-language pathologists provide aural rehabilitation services to implant recipients to facilitate their ability to detect and understand speech with the cochlear implant.

The average cost for one cochlear implant, including pre-implant evaluations, the implant devices, surgery and post-surgical fitting, can range from $40,000 to $100,000 depending on individual need and the center at which the surgery is performed. Many individuals are now being fit with two devices.

During recent years, an increase in early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) programs as a result of legislation and advocacy efforts by organizations such as ASHA has allowed for the identification of more children who may benefit from cochlear implants.

Typically, the younger a child born deaf is implanted the greater the benefit achieved in the areas of speech perception and speech and language development.

Among the professionals who may work as part of the cochlear implant team are audiologists, speech-language pathologists, educators, surgeons, medical specialists, psychologists and counselors. Audiologists are involved in many components of the cochlear implant program, including determining the candidacy of an individual for implantation, as well as activating and programming of the speech processor after surgery.

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About Us

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 182,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students.